Tom Watkins hails "outstanding" performance after Telford Tigers return to winning ways
Tom Watkins hailed Telford Tigers for the "outstanding" performance they produced in their 3-2 home victory against Milton Keynes Lightning in the NIHL National Division.
Telford were beaten the previous evening in Buckinghamshire but returned to winning ways on home ice after six successive defeats.
That victory left Tigers sitting third from bottom in ninth and head coach Watkins was delighted to see the "desire" that his team showed.
He said: "What an effort from every player on the team. 100 per cent commitment from start to finish, they played hard for each other.
"It was great to see the desire and energy we played with. Last night, I felt we didn't move our legs well enough, tonight I thought we were outstanding in doing just that.
"Simply playing with much more energy, taking away time and space, having a strong gap and slowing them down through the neutral zone, turning pucks over on the forecheck.
"What a difference, what a team performance against a stacked roster. Delighted for the players and delighted for the fans."
An eventful start heralded chances at both ends as Eric Henderson was denied by Lightning net minder Jordan Hedley before MK's Harry Gulliver crashed an effort against the post.
The visitors went ahead in the first period when Jordan Spadafore's shot from the Tigers' blue line was tipped beyond Brad Day by Ross Venus.
MK doubled their advantage early in the second period after Tigers failed to clear the puck from the defensive zone. Lightning went on to recycle possession and Carter Hamill was on hand to score off his own rebound.
Tigers found themselves chasing shadows for the first 10 minutes of the second period as another defeat beckoned. But they bounced back midway through the period when Devon Skoleski, on his return from injury, stripped a Lightning defender of the puck with some determined play.
He then picked out the unmarked Vladimir Luka who shot past Hedley to halve the deficit and propel Tigers back into the contest.
Telford hauled themselves level two minutes before the break. Danny Rose unleashed a shot from distance which went through Bedley and crashed in off the crossbar.
With 10 minutes left, Telford delivered a crucial third goal. Luka's blocked shot looped dangerously into the air and Hedley could only parry the ball into the path of Tom Byrne who made no mistake with the finish to slot into an open net.
